Article of furniture



1,642,633 Sept. 13,1927- c.'VlTTENGL- ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13,1927. 1,642,633

. I F. C. VITTENGL ET AL ARTI GLE 0F FURNITURE Filed April 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 pt. 13,1927.- I 1,642,633

F. C. VITTENGL ET AL ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

E gwuentoz 4 #4016. hfz e/ Z Sept. 13,1927. 1,642,633

F. c. VITTENGL ET AL ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill l 52 v 35 8 42. 6 3a #4/7 C. K5 2136759 C ar; /9. $556 2,

Patented Sepb l3, i927.

UNITED stares Putnam-CE.

IRAN! C. VITTENGL'AND JOHN A. VIT'IEHGL, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA. I ARTICLE 01' FURNITURE Application filed April 28, 1825. Serial lie. 26,407.

This invention relates to an article of furniture and primarily to the kitchen cabinet type whichincludes a compartment for receiving a anel for closing the front thereof and whic is provided with chairs and a table supported by the panel with means for supportlng the panel whereby the same 1s caused to 0 en automatically when unlocked from closed position.

An'object of this invention is to provide a kitchen cabinet with a rotatable panel upon the back of which is hingedly secured a table and chairs normally in inoperative positlon and resting against the panel and which is provided with suitable means whereby the table and chairs are capable of being brought to operative position and ready for use when I desired,

A further object of this invention is the provision of articular means for automatically rotating the panel into operatlve position and includes means for pivotally and slidably securing the panel to the cabinet by spring hinge supporting members which automatically rotate the anel when the locking means on the cabinet asbeen released, thereby exposing the table and chairs.

Another object of th1s invention is to provide particular supporting means for the table and chairs for hin dly securing the same to the panel and whlch includes a suporting hinge link pivotally connected to a bracket which is secured within the cabinetand is provided with a spring for engaging the hinge link adapted to assist in hol ing the same in normally closed position an also in operative position after the table and chairs have been extended from the panel. A supporting plate is hingedl connected to the free ends of the hinge lin and-has 1e hingedly sup rted to the free ends of t e supporting p ate and a bracket arm slidably connected to the plate and engagin the legs to form a brace for holding the egs rigid when extended in o erative position and to hold the legs folde' against the plate when in inoperative position. S ring means is also secured to the plate an is ada ted'to engage the bracket arm for holding t e arm locked. in extended position and locked when in inoperative positlon for retainlng the legs against the plate.

It is also a feature of this invention to use the rotatable and slidable panel within the walls of a room and still include and mainpanel,

tain the some advantages and novel features as exist when it is applied to a kitchen cabinet. By providing the walls of a room with this rotatable and slidable panel 7 many advantages are derived as it only becomes necessary to release the locking means for rotating the panel for bringing the table and chairs into view whereby they can be released from the panel for operative position and ready for use.

Further objects andadvantages will become a parent as the description proceeds and re erence is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the resent invention showing the chairs an table means In inoperative position and housed within the compartment,

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view showing the panel after it has been rotated for bringing the chairs and table meansinto inoperative-position, i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view ,taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1,

Fi 4 is an end elevational view showing the c airs and table means in operative position, one of the chairs being shown resting upon the panel,

Fig. is a detailed perspective view of the su porting means for the chairs and table,

1g. 6 is a side elevation of the sup orting plate for the chairs and table showing the legs in extended position and being detached from the chairs and table means but supported to the panel,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the chairs and table means showing the supporting plate and the spring means for mamtainlng the legs locked in extended or folded position,

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view of the panel and side walls showing the automatic means for rotating the panel,

Fig. -9 is a transverse sectional view through one of the side walls showing the guideways and the spring actuating means or causing rotation of the panel,

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view through the cabinet showing the panel released from the lockin means,

Fig. 11 is a to p an view of the table which is mounte upon the front of the Fig. 12 is. a sectional-View through the table showing the means for mounting the same,

Fig. 13 is a front elevation showing a (plurality of panels positioned in a wall, an

Fig. 14 is a detailed view of the partitions shown in Fig. 13 showing the means for securing the panels for rotation.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates the cabinet and comprises a bottom 2, top 3 and side walls 4 and 5. Mounted upon the top 3 of the cabinet is a display compartment 6 which includes a plurality of partitions for receiving dishes and the like. A main com artment 7 is formed by the top, bottom an side walls of the cabinet and pivotally and slidably secured to and within the side walls 4 and 5 of the cabinet is a panel 8. This anel is adapted to form a closure for the ront of the compartment 7.

Positioned within the side walls 4 and 5 of the cabinet are suitable channels 9 for receiving and retaining therein U-shaped channel guidewa s 10. These guideways are securely fastene within the channels 9 by screws or the like 11. Spring actuating members 12 are attached and retained within the channels 9 by screw means 11'. The U- shaped channel guideways 10 are provided with slots 12' within which are slida ly positioned pivot pins 13 which are attached to the lower ends of the spring members 12. The pivot ins 13, which project through and are sli ably positioned within the slots 12 of the channel guideways 10, are secured to the opposite edges of the panel 8. Mounted upon the top 3 of the cabinet is a resilient lockmg and releasing plate 14 which is provided with depending lugs 15 which are in cooperation with the panel 8 for retaining said panel in locked position and further allow the panel 8 to be rotated by the action of the spring members 12 on the pivot pins 13 when said plate 14 is raised to release the panel from cooperation with the lugs 15. This plate 14 is provided with a flange 16 which extends out beyond the surface of the panel 8 and serves as a means for grasping the plate for releasing the same from cooperation with the panel whereby the action of the spring means afi'ects rotation of the panel when assisted by the overbalanced weight of the chairs and table means which are secured upon the back of the panel.

Bv referring to the illustration presented in Fig. 1, it will become apparent that the cabinet is provided with the panel 8 which is in inoperative position by maintaining the chairs and table means in an unobserved and housed position. When it is desired to cause rotation of the panel to bring the chairs and table means into operative position, as shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to press upwardly upon the flange 16 of the plate 14,

thereby releasing the ans] 8 for causing rotation of the same ue to the automatic action of the spring members 12 for drawin the pivot pins, which are secured to the pane 8, upwardly within the slots 12 formed in the channel guideways 10. The pivot ms 13 are mounted and secured on the e ges of the panel 8 at a point off center with respect to said panel, which by being so ositioned. affect a particular cooperating unction of the chairs and table means mounted on the back of the panel for assisting in overbalancing the panel and thereby causing rotation of the same. The ino rative position of the panel 8 and chairs and table means is clearly shown in Fig. 3, so by releasing the flange 16 of the plate 14, the actuation of the spring members in cooperation with the chairs and table means cause the panel 8 to rotate in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 3, and into the position as indicated in Fig. 10 from which position the panel is rotated to the position as shown in Fig. 2 as well as Fig. 4, whereby the chairs and table means are brou ht into view and operative position when t 'ey have been properly released from the panel 8 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The pivot pins 13 are secured to the panel and are off center with respect to the panel. Secured to the back of the panel 8 are chairs and table means 17. The chairs and table means serve as an overbalance weight and cooperate with the action of the spring actuating means 12 for causing rotation of the panel 8 to bring the chairs and table means into operative position. The pivot pins being secured to the panel in oil center relation to the panel. it will be readily seen that the weight of the chairs and table means serves as an overbalancing wei ht and is in cooperation with the spring actuating memhere for causing rotation of the panel due to the fact that the spring actuating membars 12 retract. thereby drawing the pivot pins 13 upwardly and causing the panel t6 be moved in an upward direction due to the overbalancing weight of the chairs and table means on the back of the panel for automatically assisting in the rotation of the panel 8. v

The chairs and table means 17 are adapted to be supported in a manner so that they may be drawn out into operative position ready for use. The supporting means for the chairs and table means comprises a bracket 18 secured to the back of the panel 8 and ppsitioned within the cabinet 1. This supporting plate is provided with lateral projecting arms 19 in parallel relation to each other and have their ends bent over to form a closure or supporting means for pivotally securing and retaining a supporting hinge link 20. A coil spring 21 has one end secured ,to the lateral projection 22 of the bracket 18 and to an offset portion 23 on the supporting hinge link 20 at.- its other end. This spring is adapted to assist in holding the supporting hinge link in normally closed position as well as holding the same in extended or operative position. A supporting plate 24 is hingedly connected to the free ends of said hinge link 20 and slidably connected to said plate 24 is a bracket arm 25 having its opposite end engaging and connected to legs 26 in a manner to form a brace for holding said legs rigidly when in operative position and adapted to hold the legs folded against said plate 24 when in inoperative or closed position. Rigidly secured to plate 24 is spring means 27 which "is adapted to engage the bracket arm 25 for holding the same locked when in extended position for forming a bracket for the legs 26 as well as to hold the bracket arm 25 locked in closed or inoperative position for holding the legs 26 folded against the plate 24. Spring catches 35 hold the chairs and table means against the panel and in inoperative position.

A support 28 is mounted upon the front of the panel 8 and is provided with an opening to receive and pivotally secure therein an adjustable table 29 or the like, which is attached to a supporting plate 30 having a lateral projection 31 for engaging the opening in the support 28. A thumb npt 32 is rovided for locking and releasing the proection 31 whereby the same may swing on its pivot. A thumb nut 33 is secured to the rod 34 which supports the table or the like 29 and allows for rotating movement of the table 29 with respect to the pivot point formed by the projection 31 engagingthe opening in the support 28.

When it is desired to release the chairs and table means from inoperative or closed position upon the panel into operative position, it is only necessary to pull the legs 26 upward and out from the supporting plate 24. This allows the bracket arm 25 to slide along the plate 24 and be held in extended position by' the pressure exerted upon the bracket arm by the spring means 27. After the legs 26 are in extended position the table and chairs are pulled forward and the spring catches 35 release the chairs and table means and by exerting a slight upward pull upon the legs 26, the pressure of the coil spring 21 is overcome and automatically causes the chairs and table means to go back against the panel 8 for placing them in operative position. This is accomplished by the hing supporting link 20 being hingedly connected to the supporting plate 24 and the bracket 18 and having the coil spring 21 secured to the offset portion 23 on the supporting link and to the lateral projection 22 on the bracket 18 whereby the table and chairs are automatically positioned ,against the panel 8 when the above operation is followed. When it is desired to move the chairs and table means to inoperative position against the panel, it is only necessary to repeat the reverse operation by raising up on the bottom of the chairs and table means, pulling forward whereby the hinge supporting link 20 cooperates with the coil spring 21 to bring the chairs and table means to rest against the panel after which the same is held in position by snapping the same under the spring catch 35. Then the legs 26 can be pushed downwardly and held in locked position against the supporting plate 24 by the pressure exerted by the spring means 27. After the chairs and table means have been secured to the back of the panel 8, releasing members and the overbalancing Weight of the chairs and table means toautomatically rotate the panel 8 whereby the chairs and table are in inoperative or closed position within the compartment 7 of the cabinet.

The present invention does not necessarily have to be limited to a cabinet but can be applied directly into the wall as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13. In this form of the invention, the panel 8 is of the same form and construction and is slidably and pivotally secured within the wall 36. In this form, however, a plurality of panels 8 are positioned adjacent each other and are adapted for use in tea rooms or other public places. The floor 37 having the usual braces 38 forms the bottom of the compartment containing the panels 8 and positioned between thesaid panels are partitions 39, the intermediatepartitions formed and constructed in accordance with the channel guideways 10 and are provided with oppositely disposed slots for receiving and slidably positioning therein the pivot pins 13 secured to the panels 8. The end partitions are provided with only'one slot for receiving thepivot pin 13 of the panel. These panels have the same locking and releasing means as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 at 14 and'are also automatically rotated as hereinbefore described.

Having thus described the present invention, it is to be understood that minor changes may be made in the form and construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described including a bracket adapted to be secured to a supportin structure, a supporting hinge link pivotally connected to said bracket, a spring for engaging said supporting hinge link adapted to assist in holding the same in normally closed position and also in operative position, a supporting plate hingedly connected to the free ends of said link and adapted to carry an article of furniture, legs of the flange 16 on plate 14 causes the spring hingedly supported to the free ends of said plate, and a bracket arm slidably connected to said plate and enga in said legs in a manner to form a brace For oldin said legs ri idly when in o erative osition and a apted to hold said egs folde against said plate in inoperative position.

2. A device of the character described including a cabinet, a compartment in said cabinet, a rotatable panel for closing said compartment, means for supporting the panel on the cabinet for free rotary movement, a lock for said panel, an article of furniture supported by said panel and means for su porting said panel in a manner to cause t e same to open automatically when unlocked from closed position, said article of furniture being offset from the axis of rotation of the panel to form an overbalance tending to automatically rotate said panel into open position.

3. A device of the character described ineludinga compartment, a panel for closing said compartment, supporting means for a collapsible article of furniture including a bracket secured to said panel, a supporting hinge link pivotally connected to sai bracket, a spring engaging said su porting hinge link to assist in holding sai link in normally inoperative and operative position,

a supporting plate hingedly connected to the free ends of said link, legs hin dly supported to the free ends ofisaid p ate and a bracket arm connected to said plate and engaging said legs to form a brace for holding said legs ri idly when in o erative position and to hol said legs folde against said the panel in either one of two ositions an an article of furniture mounte on one wall of the panel whereby the article of furniture is sealed in the compartment in one position of the panel and positioned externally of the conipartment in the other position of the panel, said article of furniture being mounted on the panel in such relation to the axis of rotation of the panel as to tend to swing the anel to bring the article of furniture out ot the compartment when the said latch is released with the anal positioned to dispose the article of furniture in the compartment.

In lGStlIHOIIY'WhBIGOf we hereunto afiix our signatures.

FRANK C. VITTENGL. JOHN A. VITTENGL. 

